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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think school trip to science museum tomorrow is not a great idea ! After Westminster.

191 replies

OopsDearyMe · 23/03/2017 22:17

My daughters school have a trip arranged for tomorrow to the science museum in London. I know I'm gonna look like a bubble wrapper, but I'm not sure why but I'm not comfortable with the idea of a school taking a group of 100 kids to a known landmark and possible terror target , just a few days after what has just happened.

I know the threat is more likely to be for political places , but look at the bataclan (sp) and beach attacks. I know we should be standing firm and not be cowed, bu my daughter is profoundly deaf on one side and as a result gets lost easily and struggles in busy places. Should something happen even nearby, I'm not sure she would be able to react quickly etc.

I'm also annoyed because the statement sent out, was quite insensitive about what happened and was full of feeble reasons as to why they could not cancel (it would cost them to re book the coaches, the terror threat has not been raised and they have plenty of staff).

I used to work in the West End, when 7/7 happened and still went to work, so I'm no snowflake....

OP posts:
pringlecat · 24/03/2017 00:31

I have no idea where they all came from, but there have visibly been more police on the streets. London feels slightly subdued, but not unsafe.

Hillfarmer · 24/03/2017 00:55

It's London, not Mosul.

GrimDamnFanjo · 24/03/2017 01:02

My daughter left Parliament about an hour before the attack. She was there on a college trip. Before she left It did cross my mind that there could be terrorism. But I strongly feel that to have to live your life cowed into not doing something because of what ifs is no kind of life at all.

ShoutOutToMyEx · 24/03/2017 01:17

I don't think 'carrying on' shows disrespect to the dead and injured. On the contrary, in some way you are annexing the event to magnify your own sense of risk and making it about you. the millions of people going about their business in London, whatever fleeting fears they may have, are implicitly saying 'this is not about me', which I think is a restrained and decent statement to make.

Completely this.

Trifleorbust · 24/03/2017 05:18

Where does this end, though? If the school trip was next week, next month, next year, would you say the same thing then? The risk is likely to be the same.

Itwillbefine · 24/03/2017 05:48

How old is your DD?

I went on a residential trip to London at 10, I walked down Downing Street and went up Big Ben.

The following year we went to France.

Both trips have given me amazing memories and would be something I would want my DC to experience.

The science museum is a great place she'll have a fab time.

HermioneJeanGranger · 24/03/2017 07:11

I won't be visiting anywhere on high alert!

The whole country is on high alert Confused

PurpleDaisies · 24/03/2017 07:20

Minuscule is still a risk.

So presumably you won't be driving in your car today then? Confused

PurpleDaisies · 24/03/2017 07:23

Purpledaisies I didn't mean in a general sense, I meant it would be a better lesson in respect, if the school told the children out of respect for those who were affected that the trip was being postponed or cancelled etc.

I don't understand how this would be showing respect for the people who were affected. The trip isn't even to the area of London where it happened.

To be honest this seems like an attempted justification for being scared to go to London. It's understandable to be nervous but saying cancelling a school trip would be out of "respect" is pretty silly.

mummytime · 24/03/2017 07:30

It will be far safer on a school trip than even with a parent.

On a school trip: the students are in the coach, then dropped close to the door, they walk straight in (no long queue), and the building itself has security and is pretty strong.
We have been on Severe risk for over a year now. If you feel worried today then you should have felt as worried on Monday.

BTW my DD went on a school trip to London yesterday. Both her and I will be in London at the weekend.

And you can't postpone/cancel a trip out of respect - unless told by police etc. that it is unsafe, then the school would still have to pay everyone as though the trip had happened.

ToastDemon · 24/03/2017 07:37

I think the risks of something like this feel hugely magnified because of the massive, rolling news coverage.
The reality is that, as has been said, your risk of being killed in a terrorist attack are tiny compared to driving a car, crossing the road etc, things you take for granted and do every day.
People in Syria are in genuine physical danger. We are not.
Simon Jenkins was very sensible about this on .

robinia · 24/03/2017 07:41

A class at my ds's school has a trip there next week. They have cancelled it.

Alfieisnoisy · 24/03/2017 07:50

I totally understand you, however ironically this is probably the safest time to go because police presence and security presence is going to be high.

I think it's very important that we all carry in as normal ...but I DO understand why you are anxious.

Alfieisnoisy · 24/03/2017 07:51

Yes..whole country is on high alert and has been for the past few years. There has been no change since this incident.

TinfoilHattie · 24/03/2017 07:58

I know I'm gonna look like a bubble wrapper

Yes you are. Send her.

CycleHire · 24/03/2017 07:59

I don't know how respectful it is either to carry on as if nothing happened.

We had a minute's silence yesterday morning at 9.33 when parliament reopened. We were all still at work as normal though? Disrespectful? I don't think so. As mentioned above, is it more respectful to avoid London because you're scared?

Hygellig · 24/03/2017 08:01

We were planning to go to the science museum on Sunday and still are. I would imagine that security is likely to be stepped up at crowded places. To be honest, I'm more worries about the drive on the motorway. DH had an accident last year in which the car was written off. Around 1,500 people die each year in RTAs but most people get in a car without a second thought.

MagentaRocks · 24/03/2017 08:04

I get being worried, it is natural and yanbu to consider it.

Yes a minuscule risk is still as risk but there is always a miniscule risk with everything. Getting in a car there is a risk of a crash, there is a risk attached to everything.

I am going to London next month and taking my niece with me. I am not going to cancel. It is not that I am doing the whole we are not afraid thing it's just we have to carry on. The changes are so miniscule that if we used that as a deciding factor we literally we never do anything ever.

I suffer anxiety so it is hard for me to believe the above but I tell myself that over and over.

Megatherium · 24/03/2017 08:06

in reality you have to assess the very real dangers in everyday life

Well, yes. And logically you assess that this trip doesn't present any real dangers. The fact of the matter was that there was no terrorist attack on any museum in London yesterday or the day before. Do you seriously think it is likely that one will happen today? If the trip had been planned for yesterday and you had said your child wasn't to go, today she would be listening to her friends talking about everything they did and feeling pretty down that she wasn't with them.

I don't know how respectful it is either to carry on as if nothing happened

Seriously? The entire country was supposed to grind to a halt for two days or more? And you have made it clear that you are not contemplating keeping your daughter back out of respect anyway.

Minuscule is still a risk

Everything is a risk. It is impossible to live a risk-free life. You need to accept that fact.

Sudocreamface · 24/03/2017 08:06

Stand firm! Don't be afraid! Uuurrrrrmmmm but when it involves my kids,no. I would not let her go, it's different to put yourself and risk but another, no!
Uanbu

WormwoodScrubbed · 24/03/2017 08:09

The Science Museum currently has the space capsule on display that Tim Peake came back to Earth in, I trundled over there with kids to see it a couple of days after it was revealed and no terrorist scum would stop me going again

Megatherium · 24/03/2017 08:10

Sudocream, do you seriously think a child going to a museum in London today is at greater risk than the same child crossing the road to go to school, or to go out to meet their friends? Are the risks of crossing the road ones that parents should not subject their children to?

HermioneJeanGranger · 24/03/2017 08:11

I love how it's too dangerous to send your kids to the Science museum, but it's perfectly okay for millions of London kids to carry on going to school, the shops, the cinema and the park etc. without second thought.

It's London, not Mosul. You're in more danger when you cross the road every morning.

Sudocreamface · 24/03/2017 08:11

Sounds like the school are more concerned about the money lost. I know other schools have cancelled trips to London, because you know, there has just been an attack.

Topseyt · 24/03/2017 08:12

I would let mine go.

The risk is tiny. London isn't filled with terrorist on every corner any more than any other town or city is.

Eight million Londoners live there and their children went to school as normal yesterday.

I guess I am no bubble wrapper, but I really would hardly give it a second thought.

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